The GE Foundation, a philanthropic organization, provides grants and invests in initiatives that work to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems.
Keeping that in mind, the foundation
has announced an award of $1 million in total to four Milwaukee community healthcare centers, which have ensured that the uninsured and underserved populations across the city have an increased access to primary care.
As a consequence of the donations,
GE Developing Health Program has broadened its reach. The health program is a three year, $25 million commitment, which provides grants and funds to selected healthcare centers across the United States.
“With nearly 16 percent of the U.S. population without health insurance, GE recognizes there is a critical need in the U.S. healthcare system and the Developing Health program seeks to fill the gap in access to quality care for underserved communities,” said Bob Corcoran, president of the GE Foundation., adding that the partnership with the Milwaukee health centers was an example of the positive impact that could be had by combining funding with GE's volunteer support.
The four Milwaukee medical centers, which received funding from GE, are the MLK Heritage Health Center; the Isaac Coggs Heritage Health Center; the Chavez Health Center; and the Parkway Health Center. The grant of $one million dollars is to be apportioned equally among the four centers, with each center receiving, $250,000. over a period of two years and in two installments.
GE foundation's Health initiative proposes to eventually extend to 10 cities across the US, with New York being the first city to receive grants through GE, and Milwaukee the second.
Mike Barber, vice president of GE healthymagination, who has lived in Milwaukee all his life, said that he understood the needs, the challenges and the potential of the area, especially in the area of healthcare. Partnering with clinics to increase access to primary care would enable more people get care when they actually needed it.
Barber further added that the program and the volunteers supporting it personify GE's healthyimagination strategy of helping to change the world's approach to healthcare by touching more lives and improving quality of care.
Wisconsin Governor, Jim Doyle was impressed by the progress that the state had made in the area of healthcare during his tenure, and proudly declared that Wisconsin had the second highest percentage of people with health insurance, that the state ranked first in the nation in healthcare quality, and that every child was covered by health insurance.
Talking about the grant given by GE, Doyle acknowledged that it would greatly help to provide basic and preventative care to thousands of people in Milwaukee who badly needed it.
In coordination with its partners, GE supports U.S. and international education, developing health globally, the environment, public policy, human rights, disaster relief and community success around the globe.
GE volunteers will draw on their business management skills and complement the financial donation by ensuring that health centers benefit from GE's core competecies.in areas of process improvement and need based business management.
Honored to be recognized by GE, C.C. Henderson, president and CEO, Milwaukee Health Services, Inc., said that the funding and the supporting volunteers, would help to improves services for more than 30,000 patients, and also contribute to improving health and the quality of life in the community.
John Bartkowski, president and CEO, Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, commenting on the generosity of the GE Foundation, said that would help support the Chavez and Parkway Health Center's commitment to provide care regardless of a person's ability to pay.
Expounding on the role played by GE Foundation, Deborah Elam, VP and Chief Diversity Officer, GE., said that GE recognized the importance of a diverse, healthy workforce and community and through Developing Health, GE's Diversity council would help underserved communities of all cultures to gain access to quality primary healthcare.
The GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, works to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems. In coordination with its partners, it supports U.S. and international education, develops health globally, supports the environment, public policy, human rights and disaster relief.
GE is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries.
In keeping with its overall commitment, at the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games, GE
helped to support the efforts of a unique team of volunteer doctors from all over the world, including making ultrasound available to them at many venues for the first time.
Edited by
Kelly McGuire
